https://www.abc.net.au/news/2018-12-18/senate-report:-russia-soci...

https://www.abc.net.au/news/2018-12-18/senate-report:-russia-social-media-influence-efforts-ongoing/10629346

These allegations are not new and of course there are paid and unpaid trolls on HC and just about every other site that gets plenty of political hits.

I  don't mind some of the trolls but I dislike those who pretend to take on an extreme right or extreme left US identity for whatever purpose.  In any case the purpose of allegedly sowing disunity in the US seems a tad off centre at the tail end of an Australian stock traders forum.  I can understand that they are also seeking to sow disunity between the US and US allies but focussing on US domestic politics doesn't really achieve that in non-US sites.

Global geopolitics can't be effectively played like a soccer game.  Unlike any sport where one team necessarily loses and another wins …….. there are only losers  …… or …… only winners  geopolitical space.  For Russia to fully  prosper as a centre of global influence every surrounding region and market also needs to prosper.  They don't get it.  Neither do polarising, ultra nationalist politicians like Trump but that's another story.  Continued sabre rattling won't get them there.

The rise of populist dictators in regions that are relevant to Russia may at some point explode in Russia's face.  Russia should be more careful about what it wishes for.  

cheers